Betty G. Gaunder

Betty (Gast) Gaunder, 76, of St. Joseph, went to be with the Lord on November 11, 2003. She suffered from congestive heart disease and died at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life service will be held 10:00 A.M., Monday, November 17, 2003, at St. John Catholic Church, 600 Columbus, Benton Harbor. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Benton Harbor. Friends may call from 2:00 ? 5:00 P.M., Sunday, November 16, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Liturgical Prayers will be recited at 4:30 P.M. Sunday. Memorial contributions may be made to St. John-St.Bernard Parish. Those wishing to send a condolence message or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Betty was born in Stevensville on July 11, 1927, to Charles and Mary (Pihulic) Gast. She graduated from Baroda High School as Salutatorian of the Class of 1944. Shortly thereafter she began singing with the St. Joseph Municipal Band, and at the age of 17 she sang with Bob Lewis’ Orchestra at Shadowland and Crystal Palace. At the age of 13, she made a guest appearance singing on WLS Radio. In 1947 she was the Shurtleff College representative at St. Louis Flower Show. Following World War II, when the Blossom Festival was called off in 1951, she was selected Mrs. Home Show from a field of 37 contestants. On January 18th, 1947, Betty married George Gaunder at St. John Catholic Church in Benton Harbor and became the mother of five children. Her life was devoted to her beloved family as well as her blessed Savior. She served as Eucharistic Minister at her church and was a member of the St. John’s choir for many years, in keeping with her lifelong love of music. She survived a heart attack in 1992 and breast cancer in 1996. Betty is survived by her husband, George, of 56 years, two daughters – Patrice (John) Heeran of Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and Christine Gaunder of Carson, California; two sons – Stephen Gaunder of Baroda and Jon (Theresa) Gaunder of Stevensville; six grandsons -Sean and Patrick Heeran, George Jared (G.J.) Gaunder, Jacob, Ryan and Kyle Gaunder; and one granddaughter, Katie Heeran; a sister, Mary Susan (Roger Straw) Gast, of Benicia, California, and a brother, Gene C. (Patricia) Gast, of Sanger, California; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her youngest daughter Maureen, in 1998, her father Charles in 1988 and her mother Mary in 1995.